“I’m fine, just big as a house.”
Hailey played with her mother’s ring on the necklace she wore. “Everybody still where they’re supposed to be?”
“The babies are, but have you heard from Beau?”
“He called a few hours ago to say that he and Jack were stuck in Dallas because of the weather, but that they were renting a car to drive back.” She checked the time on her watch. “He should be here any minute.”
Luanne huffed out a breath. “That’s the thing. Jack just called and said they’re having to drive so slowly that it’s going to be at least another hour—”
“That’s okay. It’ll take that long for everyone to trickle in and people to eat.”
“Hailey, Jack says an hour’s optimistic. He thinks it’ll be two hours if they make it at all. The roads are starting to flood and they may have to find a hotel.”
The room was beginning to fill with dressed-up little girls and their dads. “So, what are you saying, Luanne?”
“I honestly don’t think they’re going to make it.”
“Really? It’s not even raining here.”
“I know. The problem seems to be north of Austin. I’m so sorry to have to be the one to give you the news.”
“It’s fine. Thanks for letting me know.” She barely had enough air in her lungs to push the words out of her throat. Her heart smashed into her stomach when she saw Lottie still standing by the door, waiting on Derek. “Oh, no.”
“You okay, Hailey?” Rusty asked.
She blinked back the tears that fought to spill over her lids. “Um, yeah. That was Luanne. She’s not sure Beau’s gonna make it. The weather between Austin and Dallas is pretty bad, and the roads are flooding.”
“Damn, that storm came out of nowhere.” Realization slid over his face inch by inch, and he jerked his head toward the front entrance. “Lottie.”
All she could do was nod.
“Alright, new plan.” He picked up a notepad. “I’ll let the boys know it’ll just be you and Lottie when they get here.”
Hailey’s broken heart jackknifed in her chest. “What?”
“You and your baby will do the set. You know all the songs.”
“Rusty, I’m not getting up there without Beau. Nobody wants to see me sing, and Lottie only knows her two songs.”
“Bullshit. That girl knows Beau’s whole set. There are a few songs we can’t do, but that’s not a problem.”
“I’m not a singer!” Being on stage with Beau in her bar was one thing. It was easy to hide behind the supernova that was Beau Callen. “I’m not doing it.”
Rusty’s gaze drifted to her daughter pacing by the entrance and fluffing the sparkly skirt of her dress that she’d told Hailey would look awesome on stage. The older man’s grey brows inched up his forehead like pissed-off caterpillars. “You’re really going to let her down because you’re embarrassed?”
“You don’t understand, Rusty.” And he didn’t. She’d carved out a place with these people and this town and just in the last year or so was being welcomed back into the fold. Getting up on stage without Beau, drawing attention to herself, would only stir up old gossip. “I need to go talk to Lottie.” She moved toward the door before the man could say another word.
The walk across the gymnasium to where Lottie was standing wasn’t near long enough for her to come up with a gentle way to tell her daughter that the night she’d dreamed of wasn’t going to happen.
And if that wasn’t bad enough, just then Derek walked through the door holding Piper’s hand. Her eyes immediately went to Lottie, whose whole being seemed to shrink and withdraw.
“Hey, Lottie. Sorry, we’re late, but Ariel wanted to take pictures. You know how it is.” Derek said, utterly oblivious to the devastation he’d just inflicted on his daughter.
“Dad, I didn’t know you were bringing Piper.” The smallness of Lottie’s voice broke Hailey’s heart.
Derek scrubbed his hand over Lottie’s head, pulling pieces of hair from the sparkly headband. “You don’t mind, do you? Her dad is out of town and, well…” He put his hand on Piper’s shoulder. “I’m kind of like her dad, too, right kid?”
“Right, Derek.” The little girl beamed up at him, but not before she gave Lottie a smug look.
Hailey wanted to tear her ex-husband apart piece by piece. “Derek, can I speak to you a moment?”
Derek shrugged. “Sure.”
Hailey’s eyes bounced from Lottie to Piper. “Privately.”
“Why?”
“Girls, why don’t you go get some punch and cookies? We’ll only be a minute.”
“Okay,” they said in unison, but one was more perky than the other.
When they were out of earshot, Hailey lit into Derek. “What in the ever-lovin’ hell are you doing?”
He slid his hand into the front pocket of his black slacks. “What are you talking about?”
For a second, Hailey was so stunned by his ignorance that she just stared at him. The ache in her jaw from gritting her teeth fueled her anger. “You brought your step-daughter to the father–daughter dance, changing your plans to pick your actual daughter up and bring her like a date, and to top it all off, you’re late. Didn’t you see her face? She’s been so excited, and you totally crushed her.”
Derek pursed his lips and shook his head. “That’s ridiculous, and if it’s true, then Lottie needs to stop being so sensitive. Piper’s her friend. They’ll have a great time.”
“Derek, I’ve told you and Ariel that Piper has made Lottie’s life a living hell since you two moved in together.”
“Really, Hailey? A living hell. I know where Lottie gets her oversensitivity.” He straightened his tie. “Now if you’re done bitching me out, I’m going to find the girls.”
The fireball of anger behind Hailey’s ribs made it hard to get a clear breath. He would never change, no matter how she appealed to him. He would never change. His disregard for her bled over to his feelings for Lottie. She honestly wondered if Derek Odom was capable of loving anyone but himself.
A group of moms was standing by the refreshment table with their backs to her. Marla was their ringleader.
“Hailey’s outdone herself with this dance,” one of the moms said.
Pride helped ease a little of the anger stomping through her body. She had done a great job.
“Yeah, she has,” Carrie Spalding’s mom said. “Too bad no one will ever forgive her for what she did to poor Derek and this town.”
Hailey’s feet refused to move forward or retreat.
“True,” Marla said. “But as long as she thinks she can redeem herself, we can get some good work out of her.” They all laughed.
A sinking realization became crystal clear. These people would never forget. Never. No matter what she did, or how helpful she was, or how she punished herself with a small life. She’d always be the girl who ruined everything.
She glanced at Lottie standing to the side of Piper and Derek looking lost and alone, then to the stage, then to the group of gossiping women. Screw it. She was done hiding. It wouldn’t matter to them one way or another.
With purpose in every step, she marched over to Rusty and the rest of the band that had arrived. “I’ll do it.”
“What…” Realization lit his craggy face. “Okay, then.”
“Do what?” Buddy asked.
Rusty crossed his arms over his barrel chest. “Beau’s probably not making it, but Hailey and Lottie are doing the show.”
“Is that alright with you guys?” she asked Buddy, who’d just rejoined the band and Tom.
The two shared a look then shrugged. “Fine with us,” Tom said.
Rusty slapped his hands together. “Alrighty, then. You get Lottie, and we’ll get the set together. Then we’re going to have some fun.”
“Would you cut that out?” Jack snapped.
Beau stilled his hands that were tapping out a rhythm on his knees. “Sorry.”
“I know you�
�re anxious to get to the dance, but you’re driving me crazy.”
They were just a couple of miles from Zachsville. Thankfully, once they’d gotten south of Belton, the weather had cleared enough for the traffic to start moving again. If not for that miracle, then they’d never have made it back in time for him to keep his promise. “I am. I made Lottie a promise.”
Jack ran his hand over the steering wheel. “You, Hailey, and Lottie have gotten really close.”
Beau played with the button on his jacket. A sick sinking feeling in the pit of his gut joined the anxiety pumping through him. With his lifestyle, he knew what the odds of a relationship working out would be. “Yeah, we have. They’re awesome.”
Jack’s mouth kicked up. “That’s good. They are awesome. And according to Luanne, Hailey’s gotten a terrible rap over something that happened forever ago.”
“Yeah, she has, but what we’ve got going on is just temporary.” The words tasted like the sour candies Lottie liked so much.
Jack glanced at him. “Really?”
“I mean, I’m about to go on the road, and that’s no way to have a family. Not that I’m looking for a family,” he quickly added, even as he called himself a liar.
“I see what you’re saying, but you know that you get to choose the kind of life you have, right? Hailey’s already singing with you, why couldn’t she go out on the road with you?”
Beau shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “And what about Lottie?”
Jack shrugged. “With the internet, she could homeschool, and you could travel with a nanny. I mean, it’s unconventional, but it can be done.”
The muscles in Beau’s shoulders relaxed when they pulled into the elementary school’s parking lot. “It’s pointless to talk about this because Hailey’s not leaving Zachsville or the bar.”
The car slowed to a stop. “All I’m saying is that your career shouldn’t come at the expense of your happiness, and I can tell you’re happy when you’re with Hailey and Lottie.”
“Are we bonding?”
Jack punched him in the arm. “Shut up. All I’m saying is think about it.”
Beau opened the car door and put one booted foot on the ground. He glanced back at his cousin and friend. “I’ll think about it. Thanks for getting us back in one piece.”
Jack snorted. “Luanne would’ve kicked my ass if I’d done anything else.”
“You are correct, sir.” Beau laughed and exited the vehicle. “Give her my love.” He shut the door and headed inside. He checked the time. Shit. He was more than an hour late.
He heard the music before he opened the side door. It was one of his songs. Who was covering his music? Had they gotten someone to replace him? Then he heard Hailey’s sultry voice come through the speakers. Damn, she was good. How could she not know that? When Lottie’s clear voice joined her mom’s, it turned the song about lost love in an old honky-tonk into something piercing and pure that lassoed his heart and refused to let go.
The organ behind his ribs contracted then expanded when he saw the two females who had taken over his life. The spotlight made the sparkles on Lottie’s dress twinkle like little diamonds, but they had nothing on the girl wearing them. The confidence rolling off her blew him away. He stood a little taller knowing he’d played a small part in giving that to her.
He scanned the room and saw Derek standing in the back with Ariel’s little girl, and both were scowling. The guy was an idiot to have walked away from these two amazing people.
The packed gym smelled like fruity perfume, cologne, and just the slightest hint of dirty socks. He kept his head down as he navigated his way to Rusty at the soundboard. The last thing he wanted to do was draw attention away from the duo in the spotlight. “How’d you manage that?” He hooked a thumb toward Hailey on stage.
Rusty grinned so big that Beau could see every one of his yellowed teeth. “I’m not really sure. At first, she wasn’t havin’ any of it, then a few minutes later, she stormed up to me and said we were on.” He shrugged. “I got ’em up there before she could change her mind. They’re three songs in.”
“Gotcha. Well, I should probably get on stage, not that they need me.”
Rusty laughed. “They are pretty great. But I know they both want you up there. Your guitar is set up and ready for you.”
Beau slapped his friend on the back and made his way to the side of the stage just as the song Hailey and Lottie were singing ended. He was in shadows so they couldn’t see him. The smiles on their faces did something to him, and he knew he’d do whatever he had to do to keep them in his life.
Screw inconvenience.
He’d figure out a way for them to be together.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Hailey stood back and let Lottie take a bow. She had to admit things were going well, and even if they weren’t, she and her daughter were having fun and that was all that mattered to her.
A quick swig of water and a glance at the set list, before she went back to the microphone. Then a squealing started at the front of the stage, and quickly spread through the room. She knew that sound and what it meant. She glanced over her shoulder to see Beau striding onto the stage in all his rumpled glory. Lottie ran and jumped into his arms. They exchanged a few words that she couldn’t hear over the screaming and applause.
He threw his head back and cracked up at something Lottie said, and she knew she loved Beau Callen.
Butterflies flitted through her stomach like acrobats on crack. This might be the stupidest thing she’d ever done—fallen for a man who didn’t want any entanglements. She yanked on the shields that she kept around her heart, but they wouldn’t budge. They were down, and there was no putting them back where they belonged.
She loved him.
Nearly every life choice had been taken from her. The only two conscious decisions she’d made for herself in the last ten years were choosing to sleep with Derek and walking out on Roger. Nothing, from getting married, to where she worked, to…anything, had been her choice. She’d stumbled into being engaged to Roger, and she’d kicked Derek out because he’d given her no choice.
Not anymore.
Loving Beau with everything she had would be her choice. She’d be with him as long as she could, which meant she was choosing the broken heart that would come when he left, but at least it would be her decision.
Her little girl was all smiles when Beau put her down and made his way to the microphone. “Howdy, folks. Sorry I’m late. I’ll try to make up for it.” The crowd cheered louder. “Give me a second to get my guitar, and I’ll see if I can sound half as good as these talented ladies.”
All Hailey wanted to do was throw herself into his arms just like Lottie had. He’d kept his promise, and judging by the dark circles under his eyes it hadn’t been easy. She glanced at the audience, toward the people whose approval she no longer cared about earning. Screw them. Two steps, and she was in his embrace.
His green eyes danced with amusement. “You that glad to see me?”
“You have no idea. Kiss me.”
His golden brows shot up his forehead. “Really?”
She leaned into him. “Really.”
His lips were warm and smooth, and she lost herself in the kiss until Buddy and Tom started playing some sexy bedroom music.
The number of girls in front of the stage had doubled, and they were all squealing and clapping.
“Gross.” Lottie covered her eyes but was laughing.
He pulled away and grinned down at Hailey. “We better get to work.”
She sighed. “If we must.”
“We must,” Lottie yelled over the crowd.
“Hang on.” He slipped his hand into his pocket and withdrew a purple and pink rhinestone bracelet on an elastic band. He knelt before Lottie and slipped it onto her wrist. “I got this for you as a good luck charm for tonight, but it looks like you didn’t need it.”
Hailey’s heart two-stepped around her chest when Lottie turned teary eyes to Beau.
“It’s beautiful. I love it.” She wrapped her skinny arms around his shoulders. “Thank you.”
His long legs straightened and he cupped Lottie’s chin in his hand. “You’re welcome.” He held her gaze. “You ready, Lil’ Bit?”
Lottie made a gun with her thumb and forefinger and pointed it at him. “Born ready.”
He laughed, stepped up to the mic, and owned the crowd. That was the effect he had on an audience. They belonged to him the minute he walked on stage.
And they weren’t the only ones.
After the last song, Hailey, Beau, and Lottie made their way to the refreshment table. Hailey knew Beau hadn’t eaten, and she’d been so nervous, neither had she. They stopped every few steps to accept congratulations from several of the dads. The little girls wanted Beau’s autograph. A huge smile split Lottie’s face when a couple of the younger girls ask her to sign their programs.
Hailey was filling a glass of punch for Lottie when Derek stormed up to them. “What the hell was that?”
She was so over him and his histrionics. “That was a music show.” She said it slowly, so he didn’t miss any of the words.
“I’m not kidding, Hailey. How dare you make a spectacle of my daughter. You can make a fool of yourself all you want, but you can’t do that with my daughter.”
Thankfully Lottie wasn’t listening. She was too busy signing autographs to be bothered with her idiot father. But Beau heard, and he got right in Derek’s face. “The only person making a spectacle of themselves is you. I suggest you take it down about fifty notches.”
Hailey put her hand on Beau’s arm. “He’s not worth it, Beau. He’s mad because someone is getting more attention than him. He’s jealous, even of his own daughter.”
A crowd had begun to form and out of the corner of her eye she saw Rusty leading Lottie away. She was smiling, so she probably hadn’t noticed what was going on.
Derek puffed his chest out and crossed his arms. “Always trying to tear me down, aren’t you, Hailey? You’re just a vindictive bitch.” He leaned toward her. “Always have been.”
Running After a Heartbreaker (Brides on the Run #4) Page 20
